New Season of Sesame Square Launches in Nigeria

Kami, Zobi and the fun and furry Muppets of Sesame Square, the Nigerian version of the beloved Sesame Street, are back with a brand new season. The show, which first debuted in May, 2011, brings critical lessons about literacy, numeracy, girls’ empowerment, and health and hygiene to young children across the West African nation.

In a country where early childhood education is scarce and diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS are all too common, the educational lessons spread throughout Nigeria by Sesame Square are crucial. This new season features a brand new animated segment, Adventures of Kami and Big Bird, while previous seasons of Sesame Square are currently being dubbed into Hausa, the predominant language in Northern Nigeria.

In the new animated segment, Kami and Big bird find themselves on a magical bus ride, during which the driver Didi will answer questions about their diverse nation and the basic educational concepts every Nigerian child should know.

In addition to the new television segment, Sesame Square’s educational content can now be found on mobile devices via the Worldreader book app. The app enables mobile phone users in Nigeria to transform low-tech mobile phone displays into smart-phone displays, similar to those of iPhones, Androids and other smart-phone systems. This transformation allows parents without a television to expose their children to the educational potential of Sesame Square.

“For more than a decade, the United States Government has partnered with the Government of Nigeria to help strengthen Nigeria’s education system,” said Maria Brewer, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria. As partners, we work together to ensure that all of Nigeria’s children receive quality basic education. This work creates a long-lasting impact by setting the foundation needed to support Nigeria’s continued development.”

To learn more about the work Sesame Workshop does to educate children in Nigeria and around the world, click here.